The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-07-14

the difficulty Of removl G or checking it.
Injustice or harsh dealing, arising from
jealousy or hatred or sense of wrong or
injury, may be terminated by removing
the cause, or making amends for the
wrong, but prejudice cannot be cured by
logic or argument, and will not yield to
penitential tears. 1t must wear out under
the footsteps of time in the march OF the
centuries.
This disincination for intimate fellow
ship is not, as many appear to suppose,
protest of the white-skinnei race against
the equality insisted upon in behalf of the
black man. Those who are the first to
admit that the negro is a man and a broth
er, and is entitled to all the ghts and
privileges accorded to his white neighbor,
when it come $ TO a practical test are the
least inclined to favor social intercourse
with their colored brethren and sisters.
There never was anything like the preju
dice against black skin among the old
Shareholders who held to the inferiority Of
the African that there is day among the
absolute equality. In the days of slavery
we have seen a rosy-hpped girl hug and
kiss her coai-black nurse with fond atfec-
ton to the great disgust Of sundry north
ern maidens, spectators of the scene, who
would have bllstered their lips before they
would have granted black woman such
a privilege.
There is no one now who defends sepa
ration of the two races in school, or church,
or hotel, or travelling conveyance because
of any supposed difference in their mental
gifts or moral qualities. All are ready TO
admit that the negro has a soul as accept
able to his Maker as that which animates
the white man who holds aloof from him
Where there is any discrimination It IS
concession to prejudice that exists with
out anything to defend it.
Only few months since a good brother
in a church that derives its pecunlary sup
port from the annual renting of the pews,
protested, as We think very justly, against
the setting apart of section for black
people and insisted that where men as
semble to worship their Maker and hum
BILE themselves in His sight, it is the last
place to discriminate against fellow man
with skin not colored like our own. The
debate was a little heated and the advo-
cate for perfect equality carried his point.
one of his oplonents, little stunS per
haps by the sharp retort Of his nelghbor
hired pew directly in front of the one
that man had selected, being one of the
best in the church. and installed therein a
family of negroes with faces as dusky as a
midnight sky. If the more liberal mem
Der had cheerfully accepted the SITUATION
and maintained his place throughout the
year he would have had the best of the
controversy But alas, it was too much
for him, or possibly for some Of his family,
and they gave up their seat and took ref
uge in a less eligible pew in another aisle.
Some were amused at this result, rlt We
heard the story with sadness. 1t certainly
seemed to US that if there is any place that
ought to be common ground for both black
and white it is at the footstool Of mercy,
where all are alike suppliants for favor to
the ill-deserving. And yet we doubt if
the black worshipers felt at home in that
exalted position, or enjoyed the service in
such associations. For the clannlshness is
not all on one side. The clamor for social
fellowship does not come from the mass of
the black people. They prefer colored
schools and colored churches, and few of
them have any inclination for intimate
fellowship with the pale faces. Orif they
have, they are restrained from attempting
it by a shame e-facedness which prevents
any self-respecting person from lntrudlng
into society where ne is not welcome.
The sharp lines of this prejudice are
rounding off somewhat with each succeed
ing year, but we have grave doubts if it
can ever be wholly eradicated. Two races
cannot live side by side and enjoy each
Others society and have perfect freedom
/ in such fellowship whore they are not per
mitted to intermarry. And such unions
are always undesirable. A wiser inter
prefer of the law than any human tribunal
has given His verdict against 1t. In all
sections Of the white race lntermarrlage
| improves the physical condition, the off
| spring lnheriting the best qualities of both
| parents In tho union between the black
| and white this rule is reversed, the off
spring in general inheriting the physical
weaknesses of both, and such mlscegena
| ton leads to a marked decline in strength
and vigor, and the staying qualities OF
manhood. This is an irrefutable argument
against such intermarriage, and without
it there can be in our Judgment no perfect
social intercourse between the African anC
/ Caucasian races.
Grand Encam pment and Farmers Insti.
/ tute.
| MASTERS OFFICE
FALKLAND, N. G., June Both, 1887.
To the Brethren aed Sisters of the
Grange of North Notwithstanding:
This is to inform you that the Grange
| Encampment and Farmers Institute vii
be held at Mount Holly, in CASTOR county
on the 10th, 18th, 18th and 18th Of Au
gust. 1887. You and all of you are earn
estly requested to attend Chat can do st
without inconvenience). and take witt
you such home and farm production tha
may encourage and assist to make thu
Fair a success.
| r-4 r ~ Do+r;oly of tho ctota Roo ~